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This ground pork mapo tofu is pure Asian comfort food. It’s packed with ground pork, firm tofu, ginger, green onions, hoisin sauce, and garlic chile sauce.
I love takeout as much as the next person, but sometimes the budget calls for at-home cooking! Or maybe you just like making your takeout fake out. Either way, I have you covered today with this ground pork mapo tofu.
It starts by browning ground pork with garlic, ginger, lemongrass, chili garlic paste, and green onions until fragrant and no longer pink. Then, add chicken stock with a few other Asian sauces, let simmer, and thicken with a cornstarch slurry. Finally, fold in your cubed firm tofu and serve it over rice.
Or you can eat it straight from the pot. I wouldn’t stop you, it’s delicious!
I’m using ground pork in this recipe, but you could use ground beef, turkey, or chicken in a pinch.
And don’t worry about the spice level. Adding freshly ground Sichuan peppercorns gives this dish a slight bite of building heat but is very flavorful. I found my peppercorns at my local Asian grocery store, but you may be able to find them in the International aisle of your local grocery store.
Ingredients needed
- Ground pork
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Lemongrass
- Chili garlic sauce
- Green onions
- Sichuan peppercorns
- Tomato paste
- Chicken stock
- Hoison sauce
- Fish sauce
- Cornstarch
- Cold water
- Firm tofu
- Basil
How to make mapo tofu
What is the best part about making takeout at home? It’s easy and fast! Plus, you get leftovers, which always taste better the next day.
- Add vegetable oil to a large skillet. Once hot, add ground pork, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, chili garlic paste, and green onions.
- Saute until browned.
- Add in peppercorns and tomato paste and stir to combine.
- Pour in chicken stock, hoisin sauce, and fish sauce. Simmer gently.
- Mix cornstarch and cold water and add to the mixture. The sauce will start to thicken.
- Once thick, fold in tofu and let warm throughout.
- Sprinkle with basil and stir to combine.
- Serve over white rice.
My Pro Tips
Mapo Tofu Recipe Tips
- Ground pork is the traditional meat for this dish; however, in a pinch, you could use ground beef, turkey, or chicken. However, it will slightly change the taste of the recipe.
- Make this dish spicier by adding more chili garlic paste.
- Want to make this dish vegetarian? Swap out the ground pork with minced mushrooms and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- Serve over white rice or mixed in with noodles.
- Grind your Sichuan peppercorns with a mortar and pestle, knife, or spice grinder.
FAQ’s
More Asian inspired recipes
Ground Pork Mapo Tofu
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 8 ounces ground pork
- 4 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- 4 whole green onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground Sichuan peppercorns
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 1 pound firm tofu, drained, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons chopped basil leaves, for topping
- 4 cups steamed rice, for serving
Instructions
- In a 12-inch high-sided skillet add vegetable oil and set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the ground pork and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add in the garlic, ginger, lemongrass paste, chili garlic paste, and green onions. Cook till fragrant and the pork no longer looks pink.
- Add in the tomato paste and ground Sichuan peppercorns. Mix to combine and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken stock, hoisin sauce, fish sauce and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- In a small bowl whisk together cornstarch and water. Pour into the meat mixture and continue simmering until the mixture is thick.
- Gently fold in the tofu and let it warm through. Be careful when stirring so you don’t break up the tofu.
- Sprinkle basil over the top and stir to combine.
- Serve spooned over rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks a million! Looks easy and delicious! Hope this recipe made you feel better!